As the New York Marathon approaches, many memories from last year's race flow through my mind. I ended up running a 3:36 last year (which qualifies me for Chicago) and boy oh boy was it an amazing experience. Lets start with the training:
THE MARATHON:- 16 weeks of training. 2-20 milers, running 5 days a week, lots of blisters and always being hungry.
I love what Stephanie Bruce said- "The marathon is about learning how to run on tired legs." How true that is.
I was able to run a 1:30 half marathon which qualified me to run this amazing race.
As I started to read about the marathon everyone said it was not an easy flat course. They had a thing back east called "Bridges" and a lot of them. Well Utah has something called "Mountains" and I used those to my advantage. I have ran my share of marathons but this one was different. I wanted to train smarter, harder and just have some fun.
This is what my average week looked like:
Monday-
Get the legs moving again! Coming off of long runs I used this as a recovery run. This run usually consisted of 3-5 miles. About a 2 mile warm up and then 3 miles of speed work. Then I would hit the weights for some strength training. I would really listen to my body and let it decide my workout.
Tuesday-
This consisted of a 6-10 mile run up the canyon. I LOVED THIS RUN! This was hard but oh how it paid off on race day. Getting outside, changing the scenery was what saved me.
Wednesday-
Speed and strength training. This was a 5 mile run that I would normally do speed work. This run always seemed to be my hardest run. I was tired after Tuesday's run but I knew that Thursday was my rest day and that helped me push through.
Thursday-
Rest & mobility. This would consist of walking and doing mobility work.
Friday-
Longer easier run. This usually was a 6-8 mile run at an easier pace. I really listened to my body and gave it what it wanted.
Saturday-
Long run. Oh how we all love the dreaded long run. Working hills in to the mix saved me on race day.
THE RACE:
I flew into New York on Friday night and got about 3 hours of sleep with a lot of complications with the hotel. Saturday was packet pickup at the expo! WOW that expo was so cool! I talked with as many experts about the course and really planned out how I was going to race the next day. I heard that the biggest mistake people make on this course is going out way too fast. So I established a plan while filling myself with so many delicious carbs. Sunday came and I was so excited. I slept so good on Saturday night and it was an added bonus that it was daylight savings which gave me an hour extra of sleep.
I rode the bus and met the nicest people. They told me that this course was harder than Boston but I was ready. I trusted my training.
I started out the race about 30 seconds slower than my goal pace. It felt like everyone was passing me and it was soooo hard to watch everyone go by but I had to trust in my race plan. My legs felt a little great. About mile 7-10 I started kicking it up and by mile 14 I was holding my goal pace.
The course was rolling hills and I started hurting but those crowds brought so much energy. As I was running through the five burrows, I have never felt so much energy. Mile 18 I started feeling so good and started really kicking up the pace (I don't know if that was because I was running in the Bronx or not;)).
I usually hit the wall around mile 18-20 so I knew it was coming but I just kept feeling great. I said to myself at one point that I do not want this to end! This was so fun!
Mile 24 came and I started to really run now but the rolling hills were getting steeper. I got to Central Park and I was giving it my all. I was having so much fun! The crowds brought so much energy and the scenery was breath taking.
Finish time: 3:36
This marathon was one of my absolute favorites. It was very organized, the staff was beyond, the crowds brought so much energy that truly helped me push to the finish. If you ever get an opportunity to run this race, DO IT!!!
One training tip is do a lot of strength training and run hills!
I hope someday you guys get the chance to run this race! Next up for me: CHICAGO!
xoxo,
Kylie
THE MARATHON:- 16 weeks of training. 2-20 milers, running 5 days a week, lots of blisters and always being hungry.
I love what Stephanie Bruce said- "The marathon is about learning how to run on tired legs." How true that is.
I was able to run a 1:30 half marathon which qualified me to run this amazing race.
As I started to read about the marathon everyone said it was not an easy flat course. They had a thing back east called "Bridges" and a lot of them. Well Utah has something called "Mountains" and I used those to my advantage. I have ran my share of marathons but this one was different. I wanted to train smarter, harder and just have some fun.
This is what my average week looked like:
Monday-
Get the legs moving again! Coming off of long runs I used this as a recovery run. This run usually consisted of 3-5 miles. About a 2 mile warm up and then 3 miles of speed work. Then I would hit the weights for some strength training. I would really listen to my body and let it decide my workout.
Tuesday-
This consisted of a 6-10 mile run up the canyon. I LOVED THIS RUN! This was hard but oh how it paid off on race day. Getting outside, changing the scenery was what saved me.
Wednesday-
Speed and strength training. This was a 5 mile run that I would normally do speed work. This run always seemed to be my hardest run. I was tired after Tuesday's run but I knew that Thursday was my rest day and that helped me push through.
Thursday-
Rest & mobility. This would consist of walking and doing mobility work.
Friday-
Longer easier run. This usually was a 6-8 mile run at an easier pace. I really listened to my body and gave it what it wanted.
Saturday-
Long run. Oh how we all love the dreaded long run. Working hills in to the mix saved me on race day.
THE RACE:
I flew into New York on Friday night and got about 3 hours of sleep with a lot of complications with the hotel. Saturday was packet pickup at the expo! WOW that expo was so cool! I talked with as many experts about the course and really planned out how I was going to race the next day. I heard that the biggest mistake people make on this course is going out way too fast. So I established a plan while filling myself with so many delicious carbs. Sunday came and I was so excited. I slept so good on Saturday night and it was an added bonus that it was daylight savings which gave me an hour extra of sleep.
I rode the bus and met the nicest people. They told me that this course was harder than Boston but I was ready. I trusted my training.
I started out the race about 30 seconds slower than my goal pace. It felt like everyone was passing me and it was soooo hard to watch everyone go by but I had to trust in my race plan. My legs felt a little great. About mile 7-10 I started kicking it up and by mile 14 I was holding my goal pace.
The course was rolling hills and I started hurting but those crowds brought so much energy. As I was running through the five burrows, I have never felt so much energy. Mile 18 I started feeling so good and started really kicking up the pace (I don't know if that was because I was running in the Bronx or not;)).
I usually hit the wall around mile 18-20 so I knew it was coming but I just kept feeling great. I said to myself at one point that I do not want this to end! This was so fun!
Mile 24 came and I started to really run now but the rolling hills were getting steeper. I got to Central Park and I was giving it my all. I was having so much fun! The crowds brought so much energy and the scenery was breath taking.
Finish time: 3:36
This marathon was one of my absolute favorites. It was very organized, the staff was beyond, the crowds brought so much energy that truly helped me push to the finish. If you ever get an opportunity to run this race, DO IT!!!
One training tip is do a lot of strength training and run hills!
I hope someday you guys get the chance to run this race! Next up for me: CHICAGO!
xoxo,
Kylie
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